The American Bobtail is one of the most laid-back of the bobtail breeds — a substantial, semi-long-haired cat with a wild, lynx-like silhouette and a famously short, expressive tail. Behind that rugged outdoorsy look is a calm, affectionate companion that bonds deeply with its family, gets along with dogs and children, and is often described as “dog-like” in personality.
Appearance
The American Bobtail is a medium-to-large, muscular cat with a powerful, athletic build. Adult males typically weigh 5.4–7.3 kg, females 3.2–5.4 kg, with the largest males occasionally reaching 9 kg. The breed comes in both shorthair and longhair coat varieties; longhairs have a particularly impressive shaggy ruff that emphasizes the wild look.
The signature feature is, of course, the tail: about one-third the length of a normal cat’s tail (typically 2.5–10 cm), flexible, and often kinked, knotted, or curved. The bobbed tail is a natural genetic mutation, not the same gene as the Manx or Japanese Bobtail. The head is broad and slightly wedge-shaped with a strong brow, large almond-shaped eyes, and medium ears that are often tufted (lynx-tipped) at the tips.
All colors and patterns are accepted by the major registries, but tabby and tabby-with-white are the most strongly associated with the breed’s wild look.
Personality and Temperament
American Bobtails are intelligent, social, and remarkably even-tempered. They tend to be neither hyperactive nor lazy: a typical Bobtail is happy to play, fetch, and follow you around for an hour and then settle into a long lap-nap.
The breed is known for its dog-like loyalty. Many Bobtails learn to walk on a harness, play retrieve games, and greet guests at the door. They are vocal but not loud — a soft chirping, trilling, and clicking vocabulary rather than a Siamese-style yowl. They form strong attachments to their family and dislike being left alone for long periods, but they are usually friendly with strangers and tolerate other cats and dogs well.
Because of this temperament, American Bobtails are popular as therapy cats and travel companions, and they adapt easily to apartment life provided they get daily interaction.
Health
The American Bobtail is generally a hardy, slow-maturing breed with a typical lifespan of 13–15 years. Maturation is unusually long: most Bobtails do not reach full adult size until 2–3 years old.
Health concerns reported in the breed are uncommon but include occasional hip dysplasia (especially in larger males) and, very rarely, partial spinal anomalies linked to the bobtail gene — the gene is dominant and incomplete, so reputable breeders avoid pairings that could produce homozygous-lethal kittens. Ask any breeder to confirm hip and spine status of the parents.
Care and Grooming
Coat care is moderate. Shorthair Bobtails need brushing about once a week; longhair Bobtails benefit from twice-weekly brushing to prevent mats, especially around the ruff and breeches. Both shed seasonally.
Trim claws every 2–3 weeks, check ears for wax, and brush teeth regularly. Like other large, slow-maturing breeds, American Bobtails can become overweight if free-fed; portion control and play sessions help maintain a healthy body condition. They appreciate climbing furniture but are equally happy with floor-level toys and food puzzles.
History
The breed traces back to a single short-tailed brown tabby kitten named “Yodie,” found by John and Brenda Sanders during a vacation in Arizona in the mid-1960s. Yodie was bred to the Sanders’ female Siamese, and the resulting kittens inherited the short tail. Over the following decades, breeders worked to stabilize a recognizable type, intentionally outcrossing to non-pedigreed domestic cats to keep the breed genetically diverse and rugged-looking — explicitly avoiding strict resemblance to any one parent breed.
The American Bobtail was accepted for TICA registration in 1989 and granted full championship status in 2002. CFA followed with provisional acceptance and championship status soon after. The breed is also recognized by WCF.
Interesting Facts
- American Bobtails take 2–3 years to reach full maturity — far longer than most domestic cats.
- Outcrossing to all-breed and non-pedigreed cats is permitted by the standard, which keeps the breed’s gene pool unusually broad.
- Despite the wild appearance, there is no documented bobcat or lynx ancestry — the look is purely the result of selective breeding from domestic stock.
Registry Recognition
The breed is recognized by The International Cat Association (TICA), Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA), World Cat Federation (WCF) — first recognized in 1989.
Health Watchlist
Conditions reported in the breed include: Hip dysplasia (rare). Reputable breeders screen breeding cats and guarantee against early-onset hereditary disease — always ask to see the parents’ test results before adopting a kitten.